Original Viewing of the Bedford Bus
This beauty of a bus is a 72-ish Bedford. Ironically my family/friend owns this bus, so I didn’t have to go far to find it. A quick jaunt, unlike the bus in Waroona. I’ve looked at it before, but its only just now starting to become something I consider seriously.
I don’t like that it it has no bumper and goes 80km/h.
BUT, its been well looked after unlike Pat’s Bus. It has a solid reliable and well looked after engine, with simple parts. What I really love, is the custom rear door which is a giant ramp, that would let me get the motorbike into the bus no problem.
I’m a bit of a sucker for the older style buses too. There is something about the aesthetic that really appeals to me. To help, I have joined a Bedford bus group on FB and I’m starting to research what it would be like to own and maintain one.
Update 2020
So after a lot of discussion and a year worth of thinking about it. We finally agreed that I would buy the bus. I’m never going to count my buses until they are in the driveway, but at the moment it looks like the plan is moving forward.
There were several follow up visits on this, and some other cons to add to the list.
- No power steering, and I don’t have the strength to turn it. Will have to install with a kit at $4-6k
- Don’t want to impact the friendship with my mates, and had to think hard about accepting all the risks
- Floor is not flat
What the final decision came down to was aesthetics. This will be my long term, permanent home and I want it to be something I love. And that’s exactly what I got with this old Bedford. I know that it will present challenges but its got the character for a lifetime.